Latin American coalition takes on NCDs

Latin American civil society declaration on the health emergency due to NCDs

Non–communicable diseases increase poverty and inequality

More than 40 Latin American civil society organisations met in Buenos Aires to launch the Healthy Latin American Coalition (HLAC), and develop a declaration recognising the grave impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region – not only as a health emergency but as a deterrent to human development and an obstacle in the fight to prevent poverty.

Therefore, the HLAC urges the Heads of State to participate in the high level United Nations meeting on non-communicable chronic diseases with the goal of putting a plan of action for the prevention, control and treatment of these diseases on the international agenda.

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease comprise the main disease groups of NCDs. Principal risk factors include tobacco consumption, inadequate diet, physical inactivity and the improper consumption of alcohol, which are avoidable and preventable social determinants of health and also increase levels or arterial hypertension, dislipidemias and obesity.

The four diseases are responsible for approximately 60 per cent of total deaths and 44 per cent of premature deaths. In addition, 80 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

Latin America is keenly aware of this situation. For the HLAC, “the increasing health costs caused by these diseases threaten to collapse public healthy systems and economies in Latin American countries. In spite of the severity of the situation, the funding to fight NCDs is only 1 per cent of the total funding dedicated to development.

The world needs for the States to quickly commit to reducing the deaths and disability that are caused by these diseases and our region should be at the forefront of this movement.

NCDs increase social inequality due their increased effects on the poor, uneducated, ethnic groups and women. In addition, these groups also have less access to health services and other social resources.

In the meeting, which included individuals from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the civil society organisation proposed that the governments of Latin American work in a coordinated manner in order to present a common and united front during the meetings in September.

“Latin America has the capacity to propose long term policies to fight NCDs in order to ensure rights and sustainable development. We must move towards a United Nations resolution on NCDs which includes concrete lifesaving objectives and favourable country development on government’s agendas.